Saturday, October 10 Vicki Ridge [Day 21] 0800-1715 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Carol and Cornell van Rike (1350-1445) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1045-1540). The temperature at 0800 was 12C the high was 16C at 1100 after which it steadily fell and was 9C when the count was abandoned at 1715. Winds were WSW all day, 20-30 km/h to 0950 after which they were strong for the rest of the day gusting to 55 km/h to 1200 and then gusting 70-80 km/h for the rest of the day. Cloud cover was 70-90% cumulus, altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and lenticular to 1230 when light rain started to blow to the east from darkening cumulus cloud in the west, which became steady rain after 1400. After 1400 cloud cover was 70-100% dark stratocumulus to the west and altostratus to the east. There was a light smoke haze initially which significantly thickened after 1115 but which disappeared after the rain started. It was a really unpleasant day! At Waterton 61 a total of only 17 migrants of 3 species were seen between 0919 and 1641 that comprised 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1u Cooper’s Hawk and 13 Golden Eagles (8a, 2j, 3u). Seven birds were seen between 1000 and 1100 and 6 between 1200 and 1300 but only 1 bird was seen after 1415. There was a stronger movement at Waterton 68 where 43 migrants of 4 species moved between 1054 and 1522 comprising 7 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 6u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 33 Golden Eagles (18a, 2sa, 6j, 7u). The highest hourly count was 14 between 1200 and 1300, and rain brought the count to an end at 1540. The combined speciescount was 60 migrant raptors of 4 species that moved between 0919 and 1641 and comprised 10 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1j, 9u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks and 46 Golden Eagles (26a, 2sa, 8j, 10u). The highest hourly combined count was 20 between 1200 and 1300. After leaving the site it became apparent that the Livingstone Range to the north was completely obscured by cloud. Only three other bird species were seen: 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 24 Common Ravens and 8 American Robins.

9.25 hours (229.2) SSHA 10 (764), COHA 2 (121), RTHA 2 (191) GOEA 46 (1050) TOTAL 60 (2360)

Saturday, October 10 Mount Lorette [Day 21] 0800-1820 (Blake Weis assisted by Sandy Graham). The total of 102 migrant raptors of 4 species comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Northern Goshawks (2a, 1j), 95 Golden Eagles (10a, 6sa, 9j, 70u) and 2 unidentified eagles. The high percentage of unaged Golden Eagles resulted from very high flying birds being silhouetted against a dense cloud cover.

10.33 hours (251.1) BAEA 1 (70), SSHA 1 (95), NOGO 3 (44), GOEA 95 (1691) UE 2 (13) TOTAL 102 (2053)

Saturday, October 10 Steeples (Vance Mattson). No observation (weather). Rain with heavily overcast conditions.

Friday, October 09 Vicki Ridge [Day 20] 0800-1900 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Doug and Teresa Dolmen (1015-1615) and Trevor Lewis (1600-1715), observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1240-1830). The temperature at 0800 was 1C (which is the lowest temperature recorded so far this season), the high from 1300 to 1700 was 16C and it was 13C at 1900. It was calm to 1000 but subsequently winds were WSW-W for the rest of the day, 20-30 gusting 45 km/h to 1230, 40-50 gusting 60 km/h to 1600 and moderating to 20 km/h after 1720. At the Waterton 61site observers counted 73 migrant raptors of 9 species between 1012 and 1725 that comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 27 Sharp-shinned Hawks (7a, 20u), 1u Cooper’s Hawk, 3a Northern Goshawks, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 5a calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 1a light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1u), 29 Golden Eagles (23a, 1sa, 1j, 4u) and 1a female columbarius Merlin. The highest hourly count was 20 between 1300 and 1400. At the Waterton 68 site 75 migrants of 6 species moved between 1241 and 1801 that comprised 2a male Northern Harriers, 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 37u), 7u Cooper’s Hawks, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (1j intermediate morph calurus and 2a harlani (1 dark and 1 intermediate), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 19 Golden Eagles (3a, 7j, 9u). The highest single-hour count was 23 between 1300 and 1400. ). The combined speciescount was 148 migrant raptors of 10 species that moved between 1002 and 1801 and comprised 1a Bald Eagle, 2a male Northern Harriers, 67 Sharp-shinned Hawks (10a, 57u), 8u Cooper’s Hawks, 3a Northern Goshawks, 1 unidentified small Accipiter, 8 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 6: 4a light morphs, 1j intermediate morph and 1a dark morph; and 2a harlani (1 dark and 1 intermediate morph), 1a light morph Ferruginous Hawk, 8 Rough-legged Hawks (6 light, 1 dark, 1u), 48 Golden Eagles (26a, 1sa, 8j, 13u) and 1a female columbariusMerlin. The highest single-hour count was 43 between 1300 and 1400 and 30 migrants were recorded during the following hour. Other bird species noted were 1 Northern Flicker, 1 Canada Jay, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 10 Black-billed Magpies, 42 Common Ravens, 20 American Robins, 1j White-crowned Sparrow, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos (1 hyemalis and 2u) and 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.

11 hours (220) BAEA 1 (47), NOHA 2 (20), SSHA 67 (754), COHA 8 (119), NOGO 3 (22), UA 1 (7), RTHA 8 (189), FEHA 1 (2), RLHA 8 (46), GOEA 48 (1004), MERL 1 (24) TOTAL 148 (2300)

Friday, October 09 Mount Lorette [Day 20] 0815-1900 (Joel Duncan assisted by Rick Robb). Observers recorded a total of 52 migrant raptors of 5 species that comprised 1 late subadult Bald Eagle, 1u Northern Harrier, 2 Sharp-shinned Hawks (1a, 1u), 1j dark morph calurus Red-tailed Hawk, 45 Golden Eagles (27a, 2sa, 1j, 15u) and 2 unidentified eagles.

10.75 hours (240.8) BAEA 1 (69), NOHA 1 (9), SSHA 2 (94), RTHA 1 (55), GOEA 45 (1596), UE 2 (11) TOTAL 52 (1951)

Friday, October 09 Steeples [Day 5] 1230-1700 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 18C, winds were moderate S and cloud cover was 100-60% cumulus, altostratus and lenticular, but despite these promising conditions no migrant raptors were seen and the only raptor recorded was a non-migrant juvenile Bald Eagle.

4.5 hours (12.25) TOTAL 0 (6)

Thursday, October 08 Vicki Ridge [Day 19] 0750-1905 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson, assisted by Phil Nicholas (1100-1745), observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge; and Gord Petersen at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 0905-1710). The temperature at 0750 was 14C, the high at 1400 and again at 1600 was 20C and it was 15C at 1905. Winds were again strong WSW-W all day 30-40 gusting 60 km/h. Cloud cover was 10-20% cumulus to 0930 and then increased to 40-90% cumulus, altostratus altocumulus and cirrus to 1730 after which 70-100% dark cumulus moved from the west and threatened the rain that began to fall around 2000. The thin smoke haze that has persisted for the last several days became noticeably thicker after 1330. At the Waterton 61 site observers counted a total of 172 migrant raptors of 8 species between 0824 and 1739 that comprised 3 Bald Eagles (1a, 2sa), 17 Sharp-shinned Hawks (3a, 14u), 3 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 2u), 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1u), 2 light morph Rough-legged Hawks, 143 Golden Eagles (99a, 8sa, 32j, 4u) and 1u male columbarius Merlin. The highest hourly count was 45 (including 43 Golden Eagles) between 0900 and 1000 and movement was fairly steady thereafter with only a couple of 40-minute hiatuses during the day until the lowering dark cumulus cloud stopped the migration at 1739. At the Waterton 68 site Gord counted a very similar total of 174 raptors of 7 species between 0914 and 1651 that comprised 3a Bald Eagles, 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 27u), 2u Cooper’s Hawks, 1u Northern Goshawk, 3a light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 1 dark) and 131 Golden Eagles (84a, 2sa, 33j, 12u). The highest hourly counts were 30 (0900-1000) and 35 (1400-1500). The combined species count was a season high 346 migrants of 8 species that moved between 0824 and 1739 and comprised 6 Bald Eagles (4a, 2sa), 47 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 1j, 41u), 5 Cooper’s Hawks (1a, 4u), 2 Northern Goshawks (1a, 1u), 5 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (4a, 1u), 6 Rough-legged Hawks (5 light, 1 dark), a season-high 274 Golden Eagles (183a, 10sa, 65j, 16u) and 1u male columbarius Merlin. The highest combined-site hourly count was 75 between 0900 and 1000 and the second highest was 57 between 1400 and 1500.  Only four other bird species were noted: 8 Black-billed Magpies, 9 Common Ravens, 7 American Robins and 8 Pine Siskins.

11.25 hours (209) BAEA 6 (46), SSHA 47 (687), COHA 5 (111), NOGO 2 (19), RTHA 5 (181), RLHA 6 (38), GOEA 274 (956), MERL 1 (23) TOTAL 346 (2152)

Thursday, October 08 Mount Lorette [Day 19] 0745-1900 (Graeme Dunlop assisted by Joel Duncan). When 46 Golden Eagles were counted between 1000 and 1100 the observers envisaged a very high count but progressively deteriorating weather through the afternoon produced a final count of 167 migrant raptors of 7 species which, although a good total, failed to meet early expectations. The count of 7 species was 6 Bald Eagles (2a, 2sa, 1j, 1u), 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 5a Northern Goshawks, 152 Golden Eagles (62a, 13sa, 3j, 74u), 1u American Kestrel and 1 unidentified large falcon.

11.25 hours (230) BAEA 6 (68), SSHA 1 (92), COHA 1 (16), NOGO 5 (41), GOEA 152 (1551), AMKE 1 (2) UF 1 (6) TOTAL 167 (1899)

Thursday, October 08 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation (weather). When Vance was finally free to go to the site at 1600 it began to rain, with heavy cloud developing to the north!

Wednesday, October 07 Vicki Ridge [Day 18] 0810-1830 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Denise Cocciolone Amatto at the northern end of Vicki Ridge; and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 1010-1745). The temperature at 0810 was 4C, the high at 1600 was 15C and it was 13C at 1830 when the count was abandoned. It was calm to 1120 and again after 1800, and between winds were variable E to S and generally light with the exception of around 1400 when they occasionally gusted up to 15 km/h from the E. There was a light westerly flow aloft all day but it failed to lower to ridgetop level. Cloud cover was 80-90% cumulus to 0930 which quickly cleared to 10-30% altocumulus and cirrus to 1100 and was subsequently 50-80% altocumulus, cirrus, altostratus and lenticular with minor cumulus to the west for the rest of the day. Observing conditions were excellent throughout but at Waterton 61 only 12 migrants of 7 species were counted between 1109 and 1608 that comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 3 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j), 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1light, 1 dark), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 2 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa). Six of the birds occurred between 1200 and 1300. The observers at Waterton 68 also counted 12 migrants of 4 species between 1118 and 1551 that comprised 2u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 1u Red-tailed Hawk and 8 Golden Eagles (1j 7u). Most of the eagles were seen soaring west of the Carbondale Ridge and distance precluded detailed identification. Six of the birds were seen between 1300 and 1400. The combined species count was 24 migrants of 7 species that moved between 1109 and 1608 and comprised 1j male Northern Harrier, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 1j, 2u), 3a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a light morph Broad-winged Hawk, 3 Red-tailed Hawks (2a calurus (1light, 1 dark) and 1 indeterminate bird), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk and 10 Golden Eagles (1a, 1sa, 1j, 7u). The highest combined count hour was 10 between 1200 and 1300. One positive aspect of the calm conditions was that it was easier to locate other bird species that were 1 Hairy Woodpecker, 1 juvenile Northern Shrike, 6 Canada Jays, 11 Black-billed Magpies, 35 Common Ravens, 3 Black-capped Chickadees, 2 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 Townsend’s Solitaire, 33 American Robins, 1 female Evening Grosbeak, 1 Cassin’s Finch that sang briefly in the morning and 1 Pine Siskin.

10.33 hours (197.7) NOHA 1 (18), SSHA 5 (640), COHA 3 (106), BWHA 1 (18), RTHA 3 (176), RLHA 1 (32), GOEA 10 (682) TOTAL 24 (1806)

Wednesday, October 07 Mount Lorette [Day 18] 0655-1905 (Bill Wilson assisted by Glenn Webber). There was another strong movement at Mount Lorette where the observers counted 125 migrant raptors of 7 species that comprised 5 Bald Eagles (3a, 1sa3, 1sa2), 3u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2a Cooper’s Hawks, 1a Northern Goshawk, 2 light morph calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1a, 1j), 3 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 1 dark), 106 Golden Eagles (66a, 4sa, 13j, 1 undifferentiated immature, 22u) and 3 unidentified eagles. The last four days at the site have produced 728 Golden Eagles and the October count there so far is 1108 birds.

12.18 hours (218.8) BAEA 5 (62), SSHA 3 (91), COHA 2 (15), NOGO 1 (36), RTHA 2 (54), RLHA 3 (13), GOEA 106 (1399), UE 3 (9) TOTAL 125 (1732)

Wednesday, October 07 Steeples (Vance Mattson).  No observation.

Tuesday, October 06 Vicki Ridge [Day 17] 0810-1910 (Peter Sherrington and Hilary Atkinson assisted by Raymond Toal (1615-1705) observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite on the western flank of the ridge, and Gord Petersen and Cathy Scrimshaw at the western edge of Kyllo Ridge at the Waterton 68 wellsite, 0945-1900). It was again a warm and windy day with a temperature of 14C at 0810, a high of 21 at 1500-1700 and a finishing temperature of 17C at 1910. Winds were again strong WSW-W for most of the day day gusting 50-60 km/k and reaching 80 km/h on the western ridge that only moderated to 30-40 km/h after 1800. Cloud cover was 30-40% altocumulus, lenticular and cirrus with minor cumulus to the west until 1630 after which it was 40-60% cumulus. It was sunny all day and observing conditions were excellent. Following the strong movement at Mount Lorette the previous day we were expecting a high count and it appeared that this was going to happen when 9 Golden Eagles moved high to the south between 0914 and 0952 but by 1645 when the last migrant was seen the count at Waterton 61 was a disappointing 31 migrants of 5 species. The total comprised 4u Sharp-shinned Hawks, 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 4a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (3 light, 1 dark), 2 Rough-legged Hawks (1 light, 1 dark) and only 20 Golden Eagles (17a, 3j).  Once again the strong winds favoured movement on the western ridge and the Waterton 68 site produced a total of 84 birds of 5 species between 0943 and 1852 that comprised 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 25u), 4 Red-tailed Hawks (1 light a and 1dark j calurus, and 2a harlani (1 light, 1 dark), 4 Rough-legged Hawks (2 light, 2 dark), 45 Golden Eagles (26a, 4sa, 13j, 2u) and 1u Merlin. Most birds moved close to the ridge and very few birds were seen moving west of the site along the Carbondale Ridge. The combined species count was 115 migrants of 6 species that moved between 0914 and 1852 and comprised 34 Sharp-shinned Hawks (5a, 29u), 1a Cooper’s Hawk, 8 Red-tailed Hawks (calurus 6: 4a light, 1a, 1j dark, and 2a harlani (1 light 1 dark)), 6 Rough-legged Hawks (3 light, 3 dark), 65 Golden Eagles (43a, 4sa, 16j, 2u) and 1u Merlin. Other bird species were 1a light morph Parasitic Jaeger photographed by Gord at 1345, 7 Black-billed Magpies, 12 American Crows, 132 Common Ravens, 2 Mountain Bluebirds (1 male, 1 female) that perched at the Waterton 61 site and fed on grasshoppers in the morning, and 7 American Robins.

11 hours (187.4) SSHA 34 (635), COHA 1 (193), RTHA 8 (173), RLHA 6 (31), GOEA 65 (672), MERL 1 (22) TOTAL 115 (1782)

Tuesday, October 06 Mount Lorette [Day 17] 0745-1930 (George Halmazna assisted by Dan Parliament). For the second consecutive day there was a significant Golden Eagle movement at the site with 255 birds recorded. Other raptors were 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1sa), 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks (2a, 3u), 5 Northern Goshawks (3a, 1j, 1u), 2a calurus Red-tailed Hawks (1 light, 1 intermediate), 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk, 1u columbarius Merlin and the first Gyrfalcon of the season, an adult light grey morph for a total of 272 migrants of 8 species.

11.75 hours (206.6) BAEA 2 (57), SSHA 5 (88), NOGO 5 (35), RTHA 2 (52), RLHA 1 (10), GOEA 255 (1293), MERL 1 (10), GYRF 1 (1) TOTAL 272 (1607)

Tuesday, October 06 Steeples [Day 4] 1615-1800 (Vance Mattson). The prospect of raptor migration seemed good with moderate to strong SW winds blowing into the early afternoon, but when Vance arrived at the site at 1615 winds were light W, the temperature was 23C and cloud cover was 60% cumulus with some smoke haze from a nearby controlled burn. The only migrant seen was an adult Bald Eagle, and a resident Red-tailed Hawk hunted to the southwest. 1.75 hours (7.75) BAEA 1 (1) TOTAL 1 (6)